It also shocked me to read accounts of firefighters posting online warnings about air fryers. They say fires from such appliances, though not very common, often are serious because they are typically left on counters near combustibles such as paper towels, cabinets and curtains. A kitchen is the number one place for house fires already – throw in a big appliance left plugged in overnight and you have fire, literally.
So what is a person to do to be safe? In addition to the obvious (unplugging your air fryer when it isn’t in use), inspect it regularly. Look at the plug, the cord, even the appliance itself. If you see anything unusual (discoloration, melting, cracking, burning smell) under normal operation, discontinue use. Often manufacturers will provide customer support, warranty replacements or repairs if you catch problems early enough.
